DUMAGUETE CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- A top health official in Negros Oriental is in favor of retaining the Moderate General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status in the province.
“Ako mopabor ra gihapon ko na MGCQ gihapon ta. At least ang atong mga health protocol malatad gihapon nato. Kita dire sa Negros Oriental karon medyo gipalibutan ta with all positives like Cebu and Negros Occidental (I am in favor that our province will remain under MGCQ. At least we can still carry out necessary health protocols especially now that our province is surrounded by provinces with high COVID-19 cases like Cebu and Negros Occidental),” Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion told members of the media in a press briefing yesterday.
Estacion cited the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the province in which the active cases were found to be Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) returning to Negros Oriental, the need to examine further and strengthen the health guidelines during MGCQ, particularly the provision that deals with Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), and the reports of alleged unauthorized entries of LSIs in the province’s borders as some of the reasons why the province should retain its current community quarantine status.
“Kami sa IATF, dili mi moingon na perfect ang among protocol pero with the help of all Local Government Units, kinahanglan maghugtanay ta ug bakus because di man ta kabalibad kung pasudlon nato ang katong mga taga-Negros Oriental (We at the IATF do not claim that our protocols are perfect but tighter measures should be put in place in cooperation with our LGUs because we cannot prevent the entry of returning residents of Negros Oriental),” Estacion emphasized.
The assistant provincial health officer added that the public should expect more LSIs returning to the province as the national government continues to roll out its Hatid Tulong and Hatid Probinsiya Program.
Estacion, however, emphasized that even if the provincial government together with other LGUs are properly containing the returning LSIs and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) to minimize the possibility of spreading the virus, the public should remain vigilant and should not put their guard down against COVID-19.
“Walay immunity ang virus. Kung negative ka karon, as early as the third day nga mahalubilo nimo ang positive, pwede pod ka mag-positive (There is no immunity from the virus. If you are negative today, you might meet a carrier of the virus and develop the infection as early as the third day after meeting that person),” Estacion said, reminding the public and the health workers to always follow safety protocols.
As of yesterday, there are 92 COVID-19 cases recorded in Negros Oriental, 35 of which are active cases who have travel histories in places with COVID-19 infection, three deaths, and 54 recoveries.
The latest COVID-19 positive case is a 25-year old female resident of Sibulan town who is an LSI from Parañaque City.
She arrived in the province on July 16 and is now staying at the LGU-designated facility.
Estacion also reported one COVID-19 recovery from Mabinay town. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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